SWEDISH GP: Too little too late for Batch

IT was a case of too little too late for Troy Batchelor as he missed out on a place in the semis at this evening’s Swedish GP.

The Robins skipper finished last in his opening three rides but recovered to take a win and a second from his final two, leaving him on five points.

Batchelor’s night got off to a poor a start as, going off gate two, he failed to score despite pushing Martin Smolinski all the way to the line in heat two.

It was a similar story in his second ride as Batchelor struggled away from the tapes and, despite cutting back, was squeezed out in the first corner and finished at the back of the field behind Greg Hancock, Chris Holder and Matej Zagar.

Things didn’t get any better in ride three as the Aussie missed the start from the outside and quickly elected to cut back, with little success, and although he briefly held third after a slip from Freddie Lindgren the side bounced back.

Points finally arrived after the third grading break as he jumped out the gate and held off Nicki Pedersen well for victory, before running a second in his final ride after again making the start and holding off Darcy Ward in the final corner.

The meeting was eventually won by British world champion Tai Woffinden, who beat Hancock and Holder in the final to go a point clear at the top of the standings.